Architecture - Residential Styles

RESIDENTIAL STYLES

Learn about the home styles in your market and beyond. Our Residential Styles guide includes illustrations, photographs, and detailed descriptions about popular styles. Plus, use our Home Features guide to learn about architectural elements such as dormers, roofs, and arches that make a property distinct.

	Art Deco A vertically oriented design includes flat roofs and metal window casements.			Neoclassical Neoclassical homes exist in incarnations from one-story cottages to multilevel manses.
	Bungalow A forerunner of the craftsman style, you'll find rustic exteriors and sheltered-feeling interiors.			Prairie Originated by Frank Lloyd Wright, this style can be house boxy or low-slung.
	Cape Cod A true classic, Cape Cod homes have gabled roofs and unornamented fronts.			Pueblo Flat roofs, straight-edge window frames, and earth-colored walls typify Pueblos.
	Colonial An offshoot of the Cape Cod style, it features a rectangular design and second-floor bedrooms.			Queen Anne Emerging in the Victorian era, the style features inventive floor plans and decorative chimneys.
	Contemporary Unmistakably modern, this style has odd-sized windows and little ornamentation.			Ranch Ranch homes are set apart by pitched-roof construction, built-in garages, and picture windows.
	Craftsman Full- or partial-width porches are framed by tapered columns and overhanging eaves.			Regency The style borrows the Georgian's classic lines, yet eschews ornamentation.
	Creole A front wall recedes to form a first-story porch and a second-story balcony.			Saltbox Its sharply sloping gable roof resembles old-time boxes used for storing salt.
	Dutch Colonial German settlers originated this style, which features a broad, barn-like roof.			Second Empire This Victorian style features mansard roofs with dormer windows.
	Federal This style arose amid a renewed interest in Greek and Roman culture.			Shed A subset of the Modern style, Shed houses are asymmetric with sloping roofs.
	French Provincial Balance and symmetry define the French Provincial style, which has a steep hip roof.			Shingle An American style that echoes Queen Anne, it has unadorned doors and large porches.
	Georgian With paired chimneys and a decorative crown, this style was named after English royalty.			Shotgun Tradition says that a shotgun blast can trace a straight path from the front to back door.
	Gothic Revival English romanticism influenced this style, marked by Gothic windows and vaulted roofs.			Spanish Eclectic This style has details from Moorish, Byzantine, Gothic, and Renaissance styles.
	Greek Revival Entryway columns and a front door surrounded by rectangular windows are characteristic.			Split Level A Modern style, Split levels sequester living activities, such as sleeping and socializing.
	International The International style exposes functional building elements, including elevator shafts.			Stick Decorative horizontal, vertical, or diagonal boards are typical of this Victorian style.
	Italianate This style has symmetrical bay windows in front, small chimneys, and tall windows.			Tudor Tudors have half-timbering on bay windows and upper floors, and steep cross gables.
	Monterey The Monterey style updates the New England Colonial style with an Adobe brick exterior.			Victorian Built during the rise of the machine age, Victorian architecture incorporated decorative details such as patterned shingles.
	National Rooted in Native American dwellings, the National style is rectangular with side-gabled roofs.